Carriage for wire-rope tracks.



W. GOETZ.

CARRIAGE FOR WIRE ROPE TRACKS.

APPLlCATlON FILED JUN E19. 19l8.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l- INVENTOR WzZ'Zza m Goeiz I ATTORNEYS m: mum: "rm: m. wwmunw \vAsluucrdN. a a

W. GOETZ.

CARRIAGE FOR WIRE ROPE TRACKS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. 19111.

1 292 30 Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

i INVENTOR Wilhelm fioeiz ATTORNEYS rnlr mum: "was un. rnmunm, IAsulNnmm a c W. GOETZ.

CARRIAGE FOR WIRE ROPE TRACKS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l9, SIB.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

4 sHEETs-SH'EET a.

B a f x126 ATTORNEYS W. GOETZ.

CARRIAGE FOR WIRE ROPE TRACKS.

APPLICATlON man JUNE i9, 19m.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

4 SHEETS--SHEET 4.

INVENTOR WzZZzar/L 6085.2

m: mum: runs cm, PHOTO-1.11MB WAiR/NCIDH, D. r.

UKTE ATES PATENT CFFICE.

WILLIAM eon'rz, or VANCOUVER, BRITIs'n ooLUMnIA, CANADA.

CARRIAGE FOR WIRE-ROPE TRACKS.

Application filed June 19. 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM GonTz, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carriages for iVire-Rope Tracks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a carriage for an elevated wire rope track, such as is used for the transport of logs and the like over rough country. It belongs to that class wherein the load is drawn up to the carriage by the wire rope by which the carriage is drawn inone direction along the track and has provision by which it may be automatically secured to the carriage.

The improvements are directed to the manner of automatically securing the load bearing block to the carriage that such connection may be easily made, and in a manner not liable to accidental release by jar or vibration during transit.

The invention also comprises improvements in the construction of the load block itself to further the before mentioned object, and provision preventing automatic action of the load block securing hook when such is not required.

The invention also comprises a provision enabling the carriage to be used on an inclined track with equal distribution of the weight on the wheels and without impairing its load latching features.

The invention is particularly described in the following specification, reference being made to the drawings by which it is accompanied, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the carriage with the front plate of the frame removed, the same being shown in relation to the buffer stop of the track line.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the load block of the carriage. 4

Fig. 3, an edge view of the load block sustaining hook.

Fig. 4 is a general view showing the application of the carriage to a substantially horizontal track rope.

Fig. 5 shows the provision by whieh the load block can be carried out to either side of the track rope.

Fig. 6 shows the provision adapting the carriage to be applied to an inclined track.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 191 9".-

Seria1No.240.825.

In these drawings 2 represents the plate frame of the carriage, which carriageruns on sheaves 3 along the track rope 4.- stretched between spar trees or poles 5 and 6 at the limits of the track.

The load block 10 is elevated to the carriage 2 and the carriage is drawn along the track rope in one direction by a hauling" rope 11 which is taken from a drum of the hauling engine 12, over a sheave on the spar tree 5 adjacent, and passing around a sheave 8 on the adjacent end of the cai'riagie'2 and around the sheave of the load block, is'niade fast to the carriage at 9, preferably by a swivel connection. v

The carriage is drawn in the other direction along the track rope by the carriage haul-back line 20 which is taken from a separate drum of the hauling engine 12 and passing over sheaves 21 on the's'par trees" 5 and 6 and between small sheaves 22 on the carriage 2 is made fast to the carriage at 23.

The load block 10 is formed with strong side straps which are upwardly produced to form a loop 15 above the sheave of the block. The cross portion of this loop is'feinfor'ced and laterally extended by a member secured to it by countersunk rivets. When the load block is drawn up to the carriage 2 this loop 15 enters a notch 25 in the lower edges of the side plates of the carriage 2, the edges of which notch are reinforced and havetheir area enlarged to avoid undue wear and the consequent frictional resistance to entrance of the loop 15.

Pivotally mounted at 26 in the side plates of the carriage 2 is a hook 27 2 8. This hook normally maintains the position shown by thefull lines in Fig. 1 with the opening of the hook directed angularly downward and the underside of the upper member 27 inclined across the gap or notch 25, inw'hic'h position it is checked by a spring stop 29.

When the load block 10 is drawn up to the carriage the cross portion of its loo'p'15 engages the underside of the member 27 of the hook and rotates it on its pivot tolp'ro ject the lower member 28 of the hook through the loop 15 of the load block.

In this position it is checked against a stop 30, and is secured by a latch 31 pivotally mounted at 32 on the same side of the gap as the hook pivot 26. Movementof this latch is limited by a stop 33 extending across between the side plates of the carriage 2. Although the latch 31 has a preponderating weight tending to hold it in the latched position that tendency is supplemented and the action of latching quickened by a spring 34 bearing downward on the free end of the latch.

The hook or shackle 19 of the load block 10 is connected between the straps of the load block at a suliicient distance below the bottom of the sheave to insure that the load block will not invert on the rope, and as a further precaution for the same end, small guide sheaves or rollers 13 are mounted one on each side of the upper part of the sheave. The ends and undersides of both members 27 and 28 of the load block sustaining hook, see Fig. 3, are well rounded where'they encounter the loop 15 of the load block, and the cross member of that loop is laterally enlarged and is also rounded in cross section where it encounters the hooln These precautions are all taken to facilitate entrance of the loop 15 while the block may be swinging in relation to the carriage while the load is being drawn up to it.

To check excessive endwise oscillation of the load block on the hook member 28 and to prevent such oscillation injuring the sheave, the block has cylindrical projections 14 across it on each side of the straps of the loop, that when the block is drawn into position in the notch 25 will support it in the enlargement thereof.

As there are occasions when it is undesirable to have the load block 10 directly connected to the carriage by the hook 28, provision is made in the load block to prevent an toma-tic connection of the same when desired. This provision consists of a stop guard 16 mounted between the side straps of the loop of the load block on a pin 17. This guard, when hanging down, as shown by the full lines rin Fig. 1, does not interfere with free passage of the member 28 of the hook through the loop, but when upturned, as shown by the dot and dash lines, and secured by a pin 18 through the free end of it and through the side straps of the loop, the member 28 of the hook cannot pass through the loop 15. The pin 18 is connected .by a chain to the load block, so that it is always at hand and it has either a freely hinged end that when inserted will fall and prevent accidental withdrawal, as.

shown in Fig. 2, or other preventing means.

The latch 31 is withdrawn from its engagement with the end of the member 27 of the load block sustaining hook to deposit the load by a lever 35 pivoted at 36 in the frame 2 of the carriage. One end of this lever projects fro-m adjacent the pivot to engage a tail portion 37 projecting from the corresponding end of the latch 31, and to the other end of this lever 35 a contact member 38 is adjustably secured. The end of this contact member projects beyond the end of the carriage adjacent the track rope, to be engaged by the circular flange 40 of a buffer stop secured to the track rope 4. This buffer stop has a plunger 41 which is endwise movable on the track rope within a cylinder 43 secured to the track rope by a clamp 44 and is held at the outer limit of its movement in the cylinder by a spring 45 bearing against a collar 42, on the plunger of the buffer stop.

Contact of the member 38 with the flange 40 of the buffer stop will force back the lever 35 and depress the end 37 of the latch to lift the latch from retaining engagement with the hook and will permit that hook to fall and free the load block.

A similar release lever 47 is mounted on a pin 48 at the other end of the carriage and is provided with a similar adjustable contact 49. Inward movement of this lever is imparted to the front end of the latch 31 through the intervention of a short pivotally mounted lever 50. The contact members 38, 49, are normally maintained projecting outward from their respective ends of the carriage 2 and against stops 51 limiting such outward movement, by a spring 52 extending between inward projections from each release lever 35, 47 and pivotally secured intermediate of tits ends to the side plates of the carriage at 53.

Fig. 4 shows the application of this carriage to a substantially level track. It is held by the carriage haul-back line 20 against endwise movement on the track while the load block 10 is being drawn up to it by the hauling line 11, the donkey drum of the haul-back line 20 being released while theload is being drawn in to the place of deposit.

If a log is heavier than the track rope 4 is adapted to sustain, and the contour of the ground 'is favorable, the load block need not be elevated to the carriage to sustain the entire weight of the log, as its front end only may be lifted clear of the ground and a slight tension being maintained on the haulback line 20, the log may be trailed to the place of deposit.

If the load is elevated and connected to the carriage it will be automatically released as previously described, on contact of the projecting end of the member 38 with the flange 40 of the track rope stop.

If the place of cutting of the logs is located at any distance from the track line 4 on either side, the load block 10 and its hauling line 11 may, as shown in Fig. 5, be drawn out to it from the carriage on the track by a haul-back line 55 which is taken from a separate and independently operable drum on the donkey engine 12. This line 55 is conducted by the shortest route through the'necessary guide blocks 56 to the place of cutting, and therefrom direct to the position of the carriage on the line of thetrack 4. v The line 55 is at the track line passed through a snatch block 57 on the ground level and is connected to the load block 10 of the carriage.

jBy-this provision the empty load block 10 may be drawn down from the carriage, to which it need not have been latched, and being freefrom the snatch block 57, may be drawn out to the place of cutting by the line 55, the drum of the hauling line 11 being allowed to run free. The load block 10 being made fast to a log, it is drawn to the carriage on the track line 4 and the end of the haul-backline 55 being disconnected, the carriage with its 'load is drawn along the track to theplace of deposit.

The description thus faris ofthe carriage and its connected parts as required for use on asubstantially level track rope. WVhere it is to be used on an inclined track, down which it will run by gravity, the carriage haul-back line 20 may be dispensed with as the carriage with its load is'lowered down the track and the empty carriage drawn .up again bythe ha'uling line 11 from the 'donkey'engine at'the'top'of the incline.

Means is also provided for supporting the carriage horizontally on the incline of the track, that the-loop '15 of'the load block may be 'drawnevenly within thenotch 25 of the carriage in which it is secured. This is done by carrying thesupporting sheave 3, which is toward the upper end of the track in an angular frame 58, one end of which is pivoted at 59 to the frame 2 of the carriage and the other end is adjustably secured to the same through one of a series of 'bolt holes 60 in acircular arc struck from the center of 59. This enables the support afforded by the wheel 3 to be adjusted to the general angle of the track grade.

As the carriage isdrawn up and lowered down theinelined track by the hauling rope 11, which also effects the lifting and 'loweringof the load block to and fromthe carriage, it is necessary to provide some means for holdingthe carriage on the incline while the load block is being lowered from the carriage. It is further necessary to provide for release of the load block by the downward tendency of the carriage on the incline instead of by the contact with the track stop, as that contact can only be made while there is tension on thehauling line and the load'block cannot be released from the carriage while such tension is on the line, as the tension necessaryto hold the carriage on the incline will also hold the load block in contact with the carriage.

I These objects are attained by a lever61 pivoted: at 62 in theend of the carriage 2,

which is toward the:higher end of the'track.

The lower end of this lever 61 bears against theend of the contact member 49 of the release lever 47 of this end of the carriage, and on the inwardly turned upper end of this lever is mounted at 63 a loop 64 which is horizontally supported on a pin or projection 65 from the lever.

This loop 64 is designed to be engaged by a downwardly directed hook at the end of a lever 66 pivoted at 67 between theends of a strap 68 mounted between, collars on a flanged stop 69 secured to the track rope, the strap having a pendant weight connected to it that will maintain the lever 66 always below the track stop and in position to be engaged by the loop 64 of the carriage, irrespective of any twist that may be imposed on the track rope 4.

hen the carriage, being pulled up the inclined track, reaches the stop 69 at the upper limit of its desired movement it engages the flange of the stop 69 and its movement is arrested. Simultaneously the hook of the lever 66 on the stop is lifted over the end of the loop 64 of the lever 61 of the carriage and the carriage is thereby retained against backward movement when the hauling rope 11 is slackened: Further, as the carriage falls back on the hook 66, the end of the lever 61, to which the loop 64 is connected, is drawn out from the carriage, and the opposite end of the same, which rests against the end of the contact member 49, is pressed in, and in the manner previously described, the latch 31 is released and permits the hook 27 28 to invert and the load block to fall from the carriage for attachment to a load.

l/Vhen the load is attached it is drawn up to the carriage by the hauling line 1]., and on reachingthe carriage the load block will, if so desired, be automatically latched thereto. The pull on the rope in drawing up the load to the carriage will draw the loop end 64 from engagement with the hook end of 66 and that hook end may be lifted clear ofengagement with the loop by a hand line 70 connected to the opposite end of the lever .66 and the carriage is free to descend the incline as the line 11 is paid out.

The mechanism is slmple and direct and 1s not liable to derangement under the rough :usua'ge which a device of this kind is sub ected to in logging work.

and an anchorage for the same rope on the other side of the gap, a load sustaining block in the bight of the hauling line between the carriage sheave and the anchorage, said block having a loop upwardly projecting from it for connection to the carriage and a load hook pendantly connected to the ends of the loop below the sheave, means for directly connecting the loop of the load block to the carriage when lifted to it, said means comprising a hook member pivotally mounted to the carriage on one side of the gap, a stop normally maintaining the hook with its opening directed downward and its shank angled downward across the gap whereby it will be engaged by the end of the load block loop when the same is drawn into the gap and will rotate the hook to project its lower member across the gap and through the loop to a sustaining position, a stop limiting movement of the hook member at the sustain ing position, a spring actuated latch automatically retaining the hook in the sustaining position, levers pivotally mounted at each end of the carriage and having contact members outwardly projecting beyond each end for engaging stops on the track rope, said levers being connected to the hook latch to lift the latch as the contacts are pressed in, and a spring holding each contact member normally at the outer limit of its movement.

2. A carriage for an overhead track, comprising in combination, a frame composed of side plates suitably secured together the required distance apart to support between them the track sheaves, the under edges of said plates being notched to form a gap for the reception of the loop of the load block, a load block having a loop upwardly projecting from it opposite the load hook, said block connected in the bight of the carriage hauling rope which is connected to the carriage on one side of the gap and passing through the sheave of the load block passes around a sheave on the carriage 011 the other side of the gap and thence to the hauling engine at the end of the track, by which means the load block may be drawn up to the carriage and the carriage drawn along the track in one direction, means in virtue of which the carriage may be moved in the opposite direction, means for automatically securing the load block directly to the carriage, said means comprising a U shaped hook pivotally mounted at the bend of the hook between the side plates of the carriage on one side of the gap, means for checking movement of this hook member with the opening of the hook directed downward, the upper member of the hook being angularly inclined downward across the gap and the lower member withdrawn therefrom that the loop of the load block when drawn into the gap will rotate the hook to project the lower member of it through the loop to sustain the load block, a stop limiting movement of the hook member at this sustaining position, means for securing the hook member in this position, said means comprising a hook pawl pivotally mounted on the same side of the gap as the hook member and adapted to engage the end of the upper member of the hook, a spring normally holding the hook pawl in'the' latched position, and means operative at the desired limit of the carriage on the track rope for releasing said hook latch and permitting the hook to invert and theload block to fall from the gap. v

3. A carriage for an overhead track, comprising in combination, a suitable frame provided with wheels to run on the track, the underside of said frame being notched to form a gap for the reception of the loop of a load block when drawn up to it, a load block having a loop secured to and upwardly projecting from its side plates, the upper end of said loop being laterally extended beyond the width of the loop and upwardly curved toward the extension, the lower ends of said loop being produced below the sheave of the block to receive the load hook between them, the block having a small guide roller on each side of the main sheave and above the axle of the same, said load block being suspended in a bight of the hauling rope between a sheave rotatably mounted on the carriage on one side of the gap, and a swiveling anchorage for the end of the hauling rope on the other side of the gap.

4. In a carriage for an overhead inclined suitable carriage between which the track wheel which is toward the lower end of the track is rotatably mounted, an angular frame pivotally mounted adjacent the aforesaid track wheel and adjustably secured to the carriage at the other end, said frame carrying the other track wheel at the angle of the frame, and means for suspending the load from the carriage and for hauling the carriage along the track in one direction.

6. A carriage for an overhead inclined track having a load block suspended from the carriage in the bight of the rope by which the carriage is drawn along the track in one direction, means for automatically securing the load block directly to the car riage when drawn up to it, means projecting from each end of the carriage for automatically releasing the load block securing means when the projecting means of the carriage engages a stop at either end of the track, means for adjustably adapting the track Wheel at one end of the carriage to the incline of the track to maintain the underside of the carriage substantially horizontal, means for connecting the carriage to a track stop at the upper end of the incline, and means connected to the carriage for pressing in the projecting contact and effecting release of the load block from the carriage when it is held against backward movement from the upper track stop.

7. A carriage for an overhead inclined track having a load block suspended from the carriage in the bight of the hauling rope by which the carriage is drawn along the track in one direction, means for automatically securing the load block directly to the carriage when drawn up to it, means projecting from each end of the carriage for automatically releasing the load block securing means when the carriage reaches a stop secured to the track at either end, means for adjustably adapting the track wheel at one end of the carriage to the incline of the track to maintain the underside of the carriage substantially horizontal, a lever pivoted to that end of the carriage which is toward the higher end of the track, the lower end of which lever engages the load block release means at that end of the carriage and the upper end of Which lever has a loop pivotally connected to it and projecting from it toward the higher end of the track, a band rotatably mounted on the track stop at the higher end of the track, a lever pivotally mounted on the band and having a downwardly directed hook toward the carriage approach, adapted to engage and be lifted over the loop of the carriage lever,

and a weighted lever maintaining the hook lever of the stop below the track-rope.

8. In a carriage for overhead wire rope track, the combination with the carriage and the load block securing mechanism on said carriage, which mechanism includes a sustaining hook, said block having a loop member adapted to be entered by said sustaining hook when the block is drawn up, combined with means on the load block to restrain the load block sustaining hook of the carriage from passing through the loop of the block.

9. In an overhead carriage of the class de scribed having a gap to receive the loop of a load block when drawn up to it and within which it is directly secured by a hook member mounted in the carriage and automatically operated by the loop of the load block as it is drawn up to it, means Preventing this automatic action when desired, said means comprising a guard pivotally mounted between the sides of the load block loop and susceptible of being upturned and secured in a position reventing insertion of the carriage load lock sustaining hook through the loop.

10. In combination with the carria e for an overhead wire rope track, the load lock the means for drawing the load block up to the carriage and the mechanism on the carriage for sustaining the load block in its elevated position, said carriage having a gap with an enlarged mouth and said load block having a loop to enter said gap, or means on the load block for engaging the enlarged mouth of the gap of the carriage when the load block is latched to the carriage to steady the load block against swinging movement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM GOETZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

